Window sash control mechanism



- D ec.1O, 1940. v E. F. WILEY 2,224,365"

- WINDOW SA SH CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 22, 1939' INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,224,365 I WINDOW SASH CONTROL MECHANISM Esmond F. Wiley, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to Universal Window Company, Berkeley, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 22, 1939, Serial No. 291,355

2Claims. (Cl. 268108) The present invention relates to mechanism for controlling window sash hung to be swung to and from their open and closed positions and particularly to mechanism for controlling sash from a remote position, as is necessary when the sash are hung in windows which are inaccessible or inconvenient for ordinary manual operation.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means to control window sash from a position remote from the sash and through mechanism which is connected with the sash in a manner to reduce the effort necessary for opening and closing movement, which same mechanism will function to lock the sash in any position between fully open and fully closed against movement by forces exerted on the sash itself.

It is a further object of the invention to provide mechanically operated sash control mechanism which includes an operating connection adapted to be placed in a wall substantially flush with the wall surface so as to be conveniently positioned for operation of the sash without producing an obstruction or any dangerous projecting parts at other times.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, to which detailed reference is made in the following specification. In the specification, further objects and advantages of the invention are made apparent.

In the drawing-- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the lower portion of a window showing the lowermost of a plurality of superimposed awning type sash, and illustrating the application of the present invention thereto; and

Fig. 2 is an elevation on a reduced scale of the same, the elevation being of the window as viewed from the inside.

In the drawing, a sash which is generally indicated at In is illustrated as hung for outward swinging movement in a window frame I The sash i is hung by means of a pair of links indicated in dotted lines at l2, which links are pivoted to opposite edges of the sash as at l3 and pivoted as at M to opposite sides of the frame I I. A pair of ofiset arms l5 are secured to the opposite edges of the sash and project inwardly and upwardly to terminate in pivotal connections IS with shoes guided for vertical sliding movement in tracks secured one to each side of the window frame.

The construction and support of the sash as thus far described is conventional and -a sash which is hung in this manner may be opened or swung outwardly from the frame either by outward pressure against its lower rail I9 or by downward movement of 'its upper rail 20, the latter method of opening the sash being possible by reason of the offset position of the pivotal connection of the arms l5. 5

In order to control the position of the sash Hi from a remote point, the present invention includes a bifurcated bracket 2| secured to the inside of the upper sash rail 20, and this bracket supports a nut 22 which has a central vertical bore threaded for the reception of a threaded operating screw 23. The nut 22 is provided with a pair ofhorizontally extending trunnions 25 projecting from its opposite sides and journalled in the bifurcated ends of the bracket 2|. Rotation of the operating screw 23 causes the nut 22 to travel up or down, depending upon the direction of rotation, on the threaded end of the screw, and, through the connection of the nut with the bracket 2 I, imparts opening or closing movement to the sash l0.

It is common practice in multiple sash windows in which the sash are of the awning or outwardly swinging type to connect the sash together for simultaneous opening and closing movement through mechanism not disclosed herein. This imposes a considerable load on the operating mechanism, especially if one or more of the sash have become stuck or tightly lodged in closed position. As the operating screw 23 in operating through the nut 22 provides a tremendous leverage, the sash, even though stuck, may be easily operated through a suitable crank employed to rotate the operating screw, as will presentlybe described. There is, however, in this operation a substantial twisting force imparted to the up per rail 20 of the sash which, in the event of sticking of the sash, might result in the sash being broken, especially in cases where it is manuiactured of wood. In order to obviate any possibility of breaking the sash, a brace 2'6 is employed to relieve the upper rail 20 of the strain imposed upon it by the twisting action of the bracket 2|. This brace comprises a rod, as shown, the upper end of which is threaded through a lug 27 formed as a part of the bracket 2| and the lower end of which is received in a socket 28 which is securely fixed as by a screw 29 to the lower rail |9 of the sash. Thus through the brace 26 any tendency of the bracket 2| to twist upon opening or closing operation is distributed through a large area of the sash, which area includes the lower rail IS.

The operating screw 23 is connected with a control fixture 3|! which may be located in any position which is convenient. The means for connecting the screw 23 to the control fixture comprises principally universal joints and rods so that through the use of such joints and rods, the control fixture may be placed at any desired point in the wall in which the window is placed and, though it is frequently desirable that the control be placed directly beneath the window, it can as easily be placed to one side or the other if convenience demands.

In the particular arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the lower end of the operating screw 23 is connected with a conventional universal joint 3|, the lower portion of which rests on a perforated stool plate 32 which is secured as by screws to the window sill 33. A second universal joint 34 is positioned directly beneath the stool plate 32 and is connected with the universal joint 3| by a rod 35 which passes through the perforation in the plate. As the universal joints 3| and 34' are larger in diameter than the perforation throughthe plate 32, they provide shoulders for contacting the top and bottom surfaces of this plate and prevent the thrust or longitudinal movement toward which the operating screw tends when it is rotated in the nut 22. The universal joint 34 is connected by a rod 31 to a third universal joint 38, and this rod includes a slip joint which comprises an elongated hexagonal socket 39 and a hexagonal bar 40 which projects into the socket and has a sliding but non-rotating fit therein. This slip joint absorbs slight endwise movement which is imparted to the rod by rotation of the universal joint 38 and also obviates the necessity of exact positioning of the control fixture 30 with which the universal joint 38 is connected.

The control fixture 30 comprises a flat plate substantially flush with the wall surface and provided with an elongated opening 4| which provides access to the interior of a box 42 to which the plate is fastened by screws, as shown. The control fixture may be firmly secured in position by screws 43 which pass through perforations in rear flanges of the box 42 and enter a timber 44 rigidly positioned within the wall for this purpose. The upper end of the box 42 is enlarged and bored at an angle to form a bearing for a journal 45, one end of which terminates in a hexagonal socket 43 disposed within the box, and the other end of which enters and is secured to the lower portion of the universal joint 38. The hexagonal socket 45 is designed to receive the hexagonal end of a wrench or crank which, upon being inserted in the socket, may be rotated to effect rotation of the operating screw 23 and to open or close the sash l3 and any sash which may be connected with it for simultaneous operation.

otherwise be a socket for the collection of dust and dirt behind the face plate.

The threaded connection between the operating screw 23 and the nut 22 not only provides sufilcient leverage to swing sash which operate with diificulty but also provides a connection which prevents operation of the sash through forces exerted on the sash itself. For example, a strong wind blowing against the outside of a partially opened sash which tends to swing the sash to closed position can not do so because of the impossibility of the nut 22 moving longitudinally on the operating screw unless it is rotated through the medium of the operating crank as described.

The construction of the control fixture 30 is such that when the crank is removed there is no portion of the fixture which extends beyond a plane substantially flush with the surface of the wall. Consequently, no unsightly or hazardous projection is necessary and the fixture, although placed in a convenient position, is neat in appearance and unobtrusive.

The universal joints and rods which connect them may be employed not only in the simple connection illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but to form a connection between the operating screwand the control fixture, regardless of the position of the fixture or the particular shape of the wall in which the window is placed.

The foregoing description is specific for the purpose of illustrating the invention, but is not intended to limit the invention to the exact form shown, as the construction and arrangement of the several parts described may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1's 1. In a control mechanism for swinging window sash, a rotatable member operatively connected to the sash for imparting swinging movement thereto, an extension on said member comprising universal couplings and connecting bars, and a control fixture at the end of said extension comprising a socket for the reception of an operating crank, and a housing containing and supporting said socket for rotation about an axis disposed at an acute angle to a wall and adapted to be mounted within said wall with a perforate surface flush with the wall.

2. In a window sash control mechanism of the character described a control fixture which comprises a rotatable socket operatively connected with the sash by a series of bars connected by universal couplings and adapted to receive an operating crank, a substantially rectangular housing supporting and enclosing said socket at an acute angle to a wall for convenient operation, a perforate plate covering said housing and a back wall in said housing arranged parallel with the axis of said socket and meeting said plate adjacent the perforation therein.

ESMOND F. WILEY. 

